By Bob Currie, Recreational Boating Safety Specialist
U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Station Galveston Flotilla
We have all heard of No Fly Zones (NFZ). A No Fly Zone is an area set up to exclude aircraft from sensitive locations. We have similar areas set up to exclude boats from sensitive locations. I like to call them No Float Zones as a play on the NFZ for aircraft, but they are really called Security Zones. The Commander of the Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Texas City has asked us to remind boaters to stay out of the security zones. We have really had a lot of breaches lately, and we have stepped up our patrols to remove offenders. Please review these charts as well as your GPS to ensure that you do not enter a security zone. There are signs on shore and in the water indicating the security zones.

The Station Galveston Flotilla of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary operates out of the USCG Station Galveston base on Galveston Island. They aid the Coast Guard by providing maritime observation patrols in Galveston Bay; by providing recreational boating vessel safety checks; and by working alongside Coast Guard members in maritime accident investigation, small boat training, providing a safety zone, Aids to Navigation verification, in the galley, and watch standing.

Establishment of Security Zones
Shortly after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, security zones were established around ports to provide a buffer zone wherein vessels must not enter without express permission from the Captain of the Port or their representative. The Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston has established security zones for certain locations within the Houston-Galveston area. Recreational vessels and other unauthorized vessels/persons are excluded from these areas without the express permission of the Captain of the Port. Violators may be subject to civil penalties, fines, and/or imprisonment. There are two types of security zones: fixed and moving. Moving security zones are those which apply to cruise ships. In our area, the following security zones exist, and vessels must not enter those areas without permission:

Houston
The Houston Ship Channel and all associated turning basins, bounded by a line drawn between the Houston Ship Channel Light 132 (LLNR-24445) and Houston Ship Channel Light 1133 (LLNR-24450) (Just west of the USS Battleship TEXAS) west to the T & N Railroad Swing Bridge at the entrance to Buffalo Bayou, including all waters adjacent to the ship channel from shoreline to shoreline and the first 200 yards of connecting waterways.

Bayport
The Port of Bayport Ship Channel and Turning Basin containing all waters south of 29° 36. 45’ between the Bayport Ship Channel Light 9 (LLNR-23295) and the channel’s western-most point (NAD 1983).

Morgans Point
The Barbours Cut Ship Channel and Turning Basin containing all waters west of a line drawn between Junction Light “Barbours Cut” 29° 41.12′ N, 94° 59.12′ W (LLNR-23525), and Houston Ship Channel Light 91, 29° 41.00′ N, 94° 59.00′ W (LLNR- 23375) (NAD 1983).

Texas City
The Port of Texas City Channel, Turning Basin and Industrial Canal containing all waters bounded by the area south and west of a line drawn between Texas City Channel Light 19 (LLNR-24810) through Cut B Inner Range Front Light (LLNR24765) and terminating on land in position 29° 23.16’ N, 095° 53.15’ W (NAD 1983).

All Cruise Ships
Vessels may enter within 500 yards of a cruise ship but not closer than 100 yards provided they operate at the minimum speed necessary to maintain a safe course. No person or vessel may enter within 100 yards of a cruise ship unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port. These zones remain in effect during the inbound and outbound entire transit of the cruise ship and continue while the cruise ship is moored or anchored.

Regulations

1. Entry of into these zones is prohibited except for the following:
   (i) Commercial vessels operating at waterfront facilities within these zones;
   (ii) Commercial vessels transiting directly to or from waterfront facilities within these zones;
   (iii) Vessels providing direct operational/logistic support to commercial vessels within these zones;
   (iv) Vessels operated by the appropriate port authority or by facilities located within these zones; and
   (v) Vessels operated by federal, state, county, or municipal agencies.
2. Other persons or vessels requiring entry into a zone described in this section must request express permission to enter from the Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston, or designated representative. The Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston’s designated representatives are any personnel granted authority by the Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston to receive, evaluate, and issue written security zone entry permits, or the designated on-scene U.S. Coast Guard patrol personnel.
3. To request permission as required by these regulations contact “Houston Traffic” via VHF Channels 11/12 or by phone at 281-464-4837.
4. All persons and vessels shall comply with the instructions of the Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston and designated on-scene U.S. Coast Guard patrol personnel. On-scene U.S. Coast Guard patrol personnel include commissioned, warrant, and petty officers of the U.S. Coast Guard.

Summary
It is important for recreational boat owners to know where the security zones are located and to avoid entering them unless they have the express permission of the Captain of the Port. These areas are heavily patrolled by the Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and unauthorized entry into one of the fixed zones or approaching too close to a cruise ship, whether moving or moored, can result in hefty fines.

For more information on boating safety, please visit the Official Website of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Boating Safety Division at www.uscgboating.org. Questions about the US Coast Guard Auxiliary or our free Vessel Safety Check program may be directed to me at [email protected]. SAFE BOATING!

[June-22-2020]